Hundreds of rodent droppings, flea on chicken, cockroaches at Wichita KS restaurants
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Kansas inspectors cited 13 Wichita establishments for health code violations.
- Common issues included flies, rodent droppings, improper temperatures and grime.
- Most violations were corrected quickly, with follow-up visits scheduled within 10 days.
Hundreds of pieces of rodent poop scattered about, a flea on chicken, a gnat on dough, filthy kitchens, several cockroaches, grease, grime, moldy food, flies on food and more are among violations Kansas Department of Agriculture inspectors discovered during recent food safety and lodging inspections in the Wichita area.
Each week, The Eagle adds to its searchable database of failed inspections from Sedgwick County. Thirteen restaurants, hotels and other businesses were non-compliant with state regulations from July 13-19.
Inspectors found few or no violations at more than 40 other locations deemed compliant with food safety and lodging rules.
Inspections are meant to protect the public from foodborne illnesses and other health risks. Locations can fail if they have too many problems, certain types of violations or issues that can’t be fixed right away.
Violations are common. Most of the time, businesses correct issues in front of an inspector. Examples of things that can be addressed immediately are serving food that’s more than a week old, employees mishandling ingredients and dirty kitchens. Issues that take longer to correct include pest infestations, power outages and plumbing problems.
It’s rare, but a business may be temporarily shut down over violations.
Places that fail are usually reinspected within 10 days.
The list in this report was compiled on July 24 using information available from the state on that date. It covers Sedgwick County only.
But you can search food and lodging inspection results elsewhere in Kansas at https://foodsafety.kda.ks.gov/FoodSafety/Web/Inspection/PublicInspectionSearch.aspx.
Out-of-compliance inspections
54 Craft & Co., 549 S. Rock Road in Wichita — Five violations on July 14 during a complaint inspection. Food slicer with food debris on blade, fly landing on food contact surface of metal mixing bowl and clean bar utensils, salmon fillets thawing in intact vacuum packaging which increases risk of bacteria growth, about 20 live flies observed throughout establishment, no paper towels at hand-washing sink on back line of kitchen. Next inspection: July 24
Advanced Fresh Concepts (AFC) Sushi at Dillons, 13415 W. Maple in Wichita — One violation on July 14 during a follow-up inspection. Two flies observed landing on the food prep table. Next inspection: July 24
Chiang Mai Thai Restaurant, 3141 S. Hillside in Wichita — Six violations on July 17 during an inspection that was a follow-up to an administrative order and one violation on July 18 during a reopening inspection. During the July 17 inspection an inspector found excess of grease and grime in kitchen, excessive buildup of grease and grime on side of fryers and food prep tables, about 15 live flies in building, cockroach, small insects by dirty linen bag, approximately 200 rodent droppings throughout building and near woks, excessive buildup of grease and unused items in kitchen, soiled cardboard used as a table liner, two dead cockroaches in prep sink and one next to rice cooker, rodent droppings scattered throughout shelves where clean plates and bowls are stored. During the July 18 inspection the inspector found approximately 100 rodent droppings in establishment. Next inspection: Sept. 18
Dairy Queen, 1520 S. Webb in Wichita — One violation on July 14 during its first operational inspection after licensing. Ice cream mix and ranch in walk-in cooler were not kept cold enough. The restaurant was in compliance during a July 22 follow-up inspection.
Dillons, 13415 W. Maple in Wichita — One violation on July 14 during a modified complaint inspection. Twenty to 30 flies observed in the kitchen landing on food and surfaces. Next inspection: July 24
Dutch Bros Coffee, 4823 S. Washington in Wichita — Three violations on July 17 during a routine inspection. About 10-15 flies observed in kitchen landing on counters close to food and surfaces that touch food, no paper towels at back hand-washing sink, fly seen landing on clean side of three-compartment sink drainboard. Next inspection: July 27
El Rancho Motel, 4510 S. Broadway in Wichita — Eight violations on July 15 during a complaint inspection. Light bulbs missing from main overhead light fixture and bathroom light fixture in room 5, four outside fire extinguishers were overdue for inspection, roaches seen in room 10 and room 32, no smoke alarm in room 10, no records showing smoke alarms are checked every six months, no carbon monoxide detector in laundry room or north building utility closet with gas-supplied appliances, no records showing carbon monoxide detectors were checked in last six months, no emergency management plan available for employees. Next inspection: Aug. 1
Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, 10728 W. 21st St. in Wichita — Five violations on July 19 during a routine inspection. Employee touched chips with bare hands, carnitas thawing under running water that was too warm, cooked steak was not kept hot enough, shredded cheese and other foods including diced potatoes and salsa not kept cold enough, cilantro rice and Mexican rice not kept cold enough, several other foods weren’t kept cold enough, moldy carrots and jalapenos. Next inspection: July 29
Krispy’s Fried Chicken & Seafood, 3009 S. Hillside in Wichita — Thirteen violations on July 15 during a routine inspection. Employee wiped glasses with T-shirt then put on gloves without washing hands, cabbage slaw improperly dated, unlabeled spray bottle, pest bait improperly stored throughout restaurant, lettuce mix at front counter not kept cold enough, no written plan for vomiting or diarrhea incidents, insect resembling flea seen on two pieces of chicken, fried chicken wasn’t properly cooled, no sanitizer test strips, Styrofoam boxes stored on ground in back room, container of sauce stored directly on ground, no sanitizer available, cutting board wasn’t sanitized, about five dead cockroaches observed throughout restaurant. Next inspection: July 25
Lao Food Market, 3141 S. Hillside in Wichita — Six violations on July 18 during a routine inspection. Several dead flies throughout establishment, about six flies in kitchen area, approximately 300 rodent droppings including on retail shelves, raw pork skewers were at room temperature instead of in refrigeration, accumulation of grease and grime in kitchen area, large gap at back exit door where daylight is visible, fly landing on raw pork, moldy cherry tomatoes for sale. Next inspection: July 28
Papa Johns Pizza, 8918 W. 21st St. in Wichita — Two violations on July 19 during a modified complaint inspection. Employee touched cooked garlic knots with bare hands, approximately five flies, fly landing on raw dough and pizza prep table, gnat on raw dough. Next inspection: July 29
Popeye’s (listed under Chix Hillside LLC), 1350 N. Hillside in Wichita — One violation on July 14 during a modified complaint inspection. Throughout facility approximately 12-15 flies were observed, including near food and food prep areas. Next inspection: July 24
The Shadows, 6339 W. Kellogg Drive in Wichita — Four violations on July 17 during a routine inspection. Shredded cheese and ranch was too warm in cooler, two dead cockroaches behind bar, unlabeled spray bottle of glass cleaner, one full-grown German cockroach and one nymph German cockroach behind bar between glass cooler and liquor shelves. The business was still out of compliance, with two violations related to cockroaches, during its July 21 follow-up inspection.
Where to complain
If you see problems at a food or lodging establishment, you can file a complaint.
To notify the state about unsavory or questionable conditions anywhere that serves or sells food to the public, email kda.fsl@ks.gov or call 785-564-6767. You can also file a complaint at www.foodsafetykansas.org.
To report an illness you think was caused by a restaurant, food or event where food was served, contact the Kansas Department of Health and Environment at 877-427-7317 or www.foodsafetykansas.org.
Complaints about conditions at hotels and motels can be submitted at www.agriculture.ks.gov/public-resources/comments-complaints/lodging-complaint.
For more information about foodborne illnesses, visit www.foodsafety.gov.
Note: Sometimes addresses listed — especially for mobile vendors and food trucks — are not where food is actually served to the public. Contact those establishments directly for specific service locations.
The violation summaries were compiled and drafted with the help of AI tools. They were fact-checked for accuracy and edited by Wichita Eagle journalists.
